Guardians (Caretaker Chronicles Book 2) by Josi Russell Read Free Book Online

defenses.”
    The president went on. “I have another important
piece of information reported by your defensive forces which you need to be
aware of.” There was a breathless pause. “An alien ship has been spotted
orbiting your planet.”
    Ethan stood and walked quickly across the back of
the room, his heart pounding. The spot that had crossed Lucidus. He had known
it was not the orbital defenses. He breathed deeply, trying to focus on what
the president was saying.
    “Though no aggressive action has yet been
observed, you need defenses out there. I want you to know we are working hard
to get them to you. But it’s vital that you maintain your city defenses until your
fleet arrives.”
    Saras spoke up. “Madam President, if I may?”
    “Go ahead, Mr. Saras.”
    “Perhaps you are aware that a rich new deposit of
Yynium has been discovered here on Minea?” In the face of aliens, Saras was
still thinking about Yynium.
    “I’m aware.”
    Saras’s voice had a tone of forced confidence. “I
was informed yesterday that permission to mine that deposit—which my surveyors
discovered, by the way, and reported faithfully to the Colony Offices, as the
protocol directs—”
    Ethan scoffed, glancing at his Colony Office
colleagues, who showed their disgust by rolling their eyes. Saras would have
been more accurate to replace “reported faithfully to the Colony Offices” with “admitted
to finding it only after their survey was leaked to the Colony Offices.”
    “—will be given as a bonus based on production
over the next seven weeks.”
    The president nodded. “That’s right.”
    “That might not be the most prudent choice, given
the time constraints and the UEG’s desire to get as much Yynium to Earth as
quickly as possible.” He didn’t wait for her to respond. “I have the equipment
and manpower to begin work on that deposit within the week, Madam President,
and a track record of timely delivery and—” Did Ethan hear a slight hesitation
in Saras’s voice? “And clean Yynium. If you would simply grant the land to
Saras Company now, you’d have your Yynium much more quickly.”
    The president took a moment to craft her
response. “Mr. Saras, I see your point. It could be more beneficial in terms of
time to do that. But no new deposits have simply been given to any of the
companies, and I’m sure you can see the kind of precedent that might set.”
    Saras began to speak, but she cut him off. “In
addition, Mr. Saras, we are talking about a few weeks to determine the best
company to award this deposit to. Though Yynium delivery is certainly
time-sensitive, we must be sure that the quality of the Yynium is superior, as
well. We want to know that when we place this new deposit into someone’s hands,
it will arrive to us as pure as possible. Contaminated Yynium from careless
mining or hasty milling is at best a waste of time, and at worst a danger. The
seven-week period will give all companies the chance to produce for testing the
cleanest Yynium possible, ensuring that we grant the deposit to the company
which will refine it best. The UEG doesn’t need sloppy production and dirty
Yynium. We need it as pure as possible.”
    A look crossed Saras’s face. Ethan wasn’t sure whether
it was anger or fear, but it was gone quickly and he marveled that he had
witnessed a rare occurrence: Marcos Saras did not get his way.
    At Saras’s silence, Veronika stepped in. “You can
be assured,” she said, “that we will win the grant.”
    “Best of luck in that endeavor.” The president
moved on. “Now, while I have you here, I do want to commission your survey
teams, Mr. Saras, to provide for us a more extensive survey of the topography
above the deposit. We need to know what we are getting into in terms of
terrain. Can we count on you to provide for us surveys of at least the first
few kilometers above the deposit?”
    Saras was still pouting. He was such a powerful
man that Ethan sometimes forgot his youth.